Hydrogen Research and Development

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its partners are overcoming the challenges of incorporating hydrogen into the U.S. energy system. The major categories of DOE-sponsored research and development (R&D) are listed below.

Hydrogen Production

Hydrogen production research and development is important to make hydrogen cost-competitive with conventional fuels while minimizing the environmental impacts of production. Learn more about Hydrogen Production R&D Activities from the Fuel Cell Technologies Office.

Hydrogen Delivery

Research and development helps improve technologies to distribute hydrogen cost-effectively from the point of production to the point of end-use, such as in fuel cell vehicles.

Hydrogen Storage

Research and development is important to improve technologies so fuel cell electric vehicles can store enough hydrogen onboard to enable a driving range of at least 300 miles without taking up excessive space or adding excessive weight.

Fuel Cells and Vehicles

Hydrogen fuel cell research and development aims to reduce fuel cell system costs and size and to improve the performance and durability of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell systems for transportation and for small stationary and portable applications. Research for hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles is important to develop technologies that advance fuel cell systems, subsystems, and components.